Automatic electric liquid-level indicator and controller



Patented Aug. 'l, 1886.

(No Model.)

J. J, GEEGAN.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC LIQUID LEVEL INDICATOR AND C()1\T1.`ROLLER.`

N. PETERS Pmwmhugnphnr, wa-nngwn, o. c.

'UNITED STATES PATENT JOHN J. GHEGAN, OF YEVARK, vNlC-T .TFA

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC LIQUID-LEVEL INDICATOR AND CONTROLLER.

CFECATION orming part o1' Letters Patent No. 347,589, dated August 17, 188

Application lilcd March 15, i856. Serial No. 195,310. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, JOHN J. Guineas, a citiA Zen ofthe United States, and a resident ol" Newark, in the county ot Essex and State ot New Jersey, have invented certain new and usel'ul Improvements in Automatic Electric Liquid- Level Indicators and Controllers Particularly Adapted to Steam Boiler Tater Gages, ol' which the following is a complete, clear, and exact description, setting l'orth in general and in detail my invention.

rl`his invention relates to an electrical device for automatically retaining water in a steam boiler or other liquidreceptacle atan approxi matelyronstant level, and to an electric alarm which will give warning when the liquid reaches a predetermined level.

My invention consists, chiefly, of an automatic liquid-hn'ell indicator in which a lloat is employed provided with magnetic material, in combination with a magnetic circuit-controt ling device.

It also consists of subordinate features used in combination with the above device.

My invention as applied to steam-boilers, with the usual attachments, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which the tube containing the iloat and the boiler are shown partly in cross-section. The float is represented as resting upon the water within the tube and above the magnetic cireuit-controlling de vice. Dotted lines indicate the position occupied by the lloat wllen it causes the eontroli ling devices to operate.

rllhe device illustratedembodying my inven tion consists ol` a steanrbOiler, X, and pump A, the usual waterga-ge tube, l, communicating with the water l and steam ll. rlliis tube may be made el brass or other non-magnetic material.

E represents a tloat, composed otor provided with magnetic material, and adapted to rest upon the surface of the water within the tube B.

F and G are electric circuits. The circuit F contains an electmo-magnetic device, whose core H has an operative connection with the valve lever l upon the pipe J, leading to the pump A, by means ot the eonnecting-piecc li. The circuit G includes an electric signal, L, and each circuitis provided with an automatic magnetic controlling device, whereby it is opened and closed. These controlling devices consist of a movable piece of magnetic material, O, placed adjacent to the tube l, and provided with contact-points U, and a spring, Y, or other suitable retractile device, and a permanent macgnet.l N S, or an electro-magnet, M, also adjacent to but on a dil'terent side ol" the tube. Yv'hen by change ot' level el' the liquid within the tube the lloa-t is caused to approach the magnetic circuit-controller, it increases the attractive power between the permanent magnet and the movable piece O ot' magnetic material, which, by proper adjustment of the retractile device V, produces motion in said movable piece, and when by the same cause the tloat rccedes troni the magnetic circuit-coutroller the attractive power between the parts thereol' returns to its normal state, which is less than that ot' the retraetile device. rthe movablepiece ot' magnetic material is thereupon withdrawn troni the position occupied when the greater l'orcc acted upon it.` lt is obvious that the motion thus given to the eircuitcontroller can be used l'or opening or closing electric circuits containing bells or other electric devices.

By reference to the drawings it will be seen that when the ei rcuit F becomes closed by the change ol` the level of the liquid bringing the lloat in proximity to the cireuit-eontroller of So said circuit, the electro-magnet it will open the valve S, and the pump A will thereupon operate and pump more water into the boiler, which will cause the lloat to rise and recede from the magnetic circuit, and the circuit-controller will thereupon assume .its normal position. ll' by any accident any part ot' the apparatus gets out ot order and the water sinks to a very low level, then a similar operation will take place at the de vice located at l, but instead ol' setting the pump working (which may be the part ont ot' order) it closes a circuit which contains an electric bell, L, or other signal, in order to give warning that soniething is wrong.

rlhe invention is not limited to the precise construction herein described, as i evident that many moditie tions may be made therein without departing from the spirit ot' the invention-as, for inst-ance, an clectwfi-magnet, M, in a constantly-closed circuity may lV i substituted for the permanent one.

laving now stated the title, object, and nature ol" the said invention, its practical realilA iS IOO zation by reference to the accompanying drawings, and having particularly ascertained the manner in which the same operates to accomplish the said object, what I claim as new, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a liquid-level-indicating device,a float provided with magnetic material, in combination with a magnetic eircuitco`ntrolling de vice, substantially as described.

2. In a liquidlevel indicator, the combina tion of a float in said indicator, an automatic circuit-controlling device iniluenced by said loat, and consisting of a pivoted magnetic bar on one side of the float and provided with circuit-closing contact-points and a permanent magnet upon the other side of the oat, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination, with electric controlling and alarm devices, of an automatic-operating device consisting of a iioat provided with magnetic material, and adjacent devices consisting of a permanent magnet and a movable magnetic bar, and having operating connection with the circuit which contains said electric controlling and alarm devices, substantially as described.

4. In a liquid-level indicator, the combination of a tube connected with the main liquidreceptacle, a float of magnetic material in said tube, an electric circuit containing suitable translating devices, and a circuitcloser in said circuit consisting of a pivoted magnetic bar having a suitable retractile device, substantrolling device under theinfluence of said float, and consisting of a pivoted magnetic bar, with suitable circuit-closing contact-points upon one side of the float and a permanent magnet upon the other side of the iloat, said iioat being between the circuit-closer and said permanent magnet when the water reaches the proper level, substantially as described.

6. In a liquid-level indicator, the combination of a pump, an indicator-tube connected with the liquid-receptacle, a iioat provided with magnetic material in said indicator, two electric circuits, the firstcontaining an electromagnetic device whose core has an operating connection with a valve in a pipe leading to said pump, and the second containing an electric signal, and two automatic magnetic circuit-controlling devices under the influence of said float and located in said circuit, substan` tially as described.

7. rlhe combination, in a liquid-level indicator, of asteam-boiler, X, pump A, the usual watergage tube, B, communicating with the water and steam, a iioat, E, provided with magnetic material, circuit-controlling devices, such as described', and electric circuits, one containing an electro-magnetic device having a core which operates a valve in the pipe leading from the pump to the boiler, and the other containing an electric signal, all arranged and adapted to operate, substantially.as described.

In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 6th day of March, 1886.

' JOHN J. GHEGAN.

Witnesses:

EDWARD P. THoMrsoN, PETER B. VERMILYA. 

